Most of today’s challenges are spread across administrative borders and working at the level of the metropolitan area can help develop innovative solutions that benefit the wider functional urban areas. Metropolitan area governance can boost sustainable and inclusive urban transformation by increasing urban-rural cooperation. It is essential for the EU level to understand that an integrated approach to local governance is essential to bring forward many of its goals, such as progressing towards a more circular economy or delivering on the EU green deal, by for instance, improving cooperation between municipalities on local food supply and waste management.

Our European projects in this area include the Urban Agenda for the EU, Food Trails, CONNECTION, the European Green Capital Network, and the Green City Accord.